Home → Renewable Energy Projects by College Students in India and Abroad

1. Development Of An Appropriate Solar And Wind Hybrid Charging Station For Electric Vehicles In Developing Countries

University: Pennsylvania State University, The School Of Engineering Design, Technology, And Professional ProgramsYear: 2008Abstract:
A solar and wind hybrid charging station was designed to take advantage of seasonal wind and sun. According to the predicted vehicle usage data, estimations of vehicle and charger efﬁciencies, the charger is required to generate two kilowatt hours daily. The charge demand will be met with a wind turbine rated for 400 W, and a 260 W solar array. The charge storage is designed to allow the vehicles to be in operation during the day, and onboard vehicle batteries during the night. To increase the versatility of the charging station, the direct current is inverted to 110 V alternating current receptacles. The charging station will be constructed on the roof of the site library, built by Penn State University in Fall 2008. The solar panels will help to shade the roof of the library, cooling the structure. To promote the continued sustainability of the charger, the station will be installed by

University: Georgia Institute of TechnologyYear: December 2009Abstract:
The research develops a risk based holistic system design method to guarantee a match between onsite sustainable energy generation and energy demand of systems and occupants.

A power reliability assessment algorithm is developed to aggregate the system underperformance causes and estimate all possible power availability outcomes of an off-grid house design. Based on these foundations, the design problem of an off-grid house is formulated as a stochastic programming problem with probabilistic constraints.

The research provides a risk oriented view on the energy self-sufficiency of off-grid solar houses. Uncertainty analysis is used to verify the match between onsite sustainable energy supply and demand under dynamic ambient conditions in a manner that reveals the risks induced by the fact that new technologies may not perform as well as expected.

University: University of WaterlooYear: 2011Abstract:
This report documents the various photovoltaic (PV) performance models and software developed and utilized by researchers at Sandia National Laboratories (SNL) in support of the Photovoltaics and Grid Integration Department. In addition to PV performance models, hybrid system and battery storage models are discussed.

A hybrid system using other distributed sources and energy storage can help reduce the variability inherent in PV generation, and due to the complexity of combining multiple generation sources and system loads, these models are invaluable for system design and optimization.

Energy storage plays an important role in reducing PV intermittency and battery storage models are used to understand the best configurations and technologies to store PV generated electricity. The paper is organized into three sections to describe the different software models as applied to photovoltaic performance, hybrid systems, and battery storage. For each model, there is a description which includes where to find the model, whether it is currently maintained and any references that may be available.

4. Feasibility Study of Small and Micro Wind Turbines for Residential Use in New Zealand

University: Lincoln UniversityYear: December 2011Abstract:
The aim of this study was to assess the potential of domestic wind turbines in New Zealand. It established an overview of small and micro scale wind energy generation planning and implementation processes to gain insight into effectiveness, feasibility and straight forwardness of the processes involved. Hereby, economic, technical and planning aspects of domestic wind energy generation systems were analysed to investigate the benefits from small and micro scale wind energy generation.

University: University of CaliforniaYear: Spring 2007Abstract:
Sustainable operation of battery powered wireless embedded systems (such as sensor nodes) is a key challenge, and considerable research effort has been devoted to energy optimization of such systems. Environmental energy harvesting, in particular solar based, has emerged as a viable technique to supplement battery supplies. However, designing an efficient solar harvesting system to realize the potential benefits of energy harvesting requires an in-depth understanding of several factors. For example, solar energy supply is highly time varying and may not always be sufficient to power the embedded system.

Harvesting components, such as solar panels, and energy storage elements, such as batteries or ultracapacitors, have different voltage-current characteristics, which must be matched to each other as well as the energy requirements of the system to maximize harvesting efficiency. Further, battery non-idealities, such as self-discharge and round trip efficiency, directly affect energy usage and storage decisions. The ability of the system to modulate its power consumption by selectively deactivating its sub-components also impacts the overall power management architecture.

This paper describes key issues and tradeoffs which arise in the design of solar energy harvesting, wireless embedded systems and presents the design, implementation, and performance evaluation of Heliomote, our prototype that addresses several of these issues. Experimental results demonstrate that Heliomote, which behaves as a plug-in to the Berkeley/Crossbow motes and autonomously manages energy harvesting and storage, enables near-perpetual, harvesting aware operation of the sensor node.

6. The Economic Feasibility of Solar Panels for the University of Nebraska – Lincoln

University: University of NebraskaYear: May 2010Abstract:The cost effectiveness of photovoltaic panels for use by the University of Nebraska-Lincoln as a means of electricity generation was investigated. A simple atmospheric radiation transfer model which estimates solar radiation receipt values for optimally tilted and tracking photovoltaic panels was utilized. An angle of 36° was determined as optimal for the Lincoln area. Model values were applied to solar panel efficiencies and areas to determine actual received radiation per unit area by the panel.

Panels averaged 279 kWh per year when fixed; 336 kWh per year when fitted with tracking equipment. Finally, the estimated panel reception was multiplied by the price of electricity per kWh. Photovoltaic systems are not currently cost effective in Lincoln, NE for commercial use due to low conversion efficiencies of the panels, high installation expenses, and cheap public energy

Green activities by College students!!!!

University: West Virginia UniversityCountry: USADone by: Ivan StiefelURL: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9vVex8hUUsw&feature=player_embeddedYear: Started in 2007Activity:West Virginia University student Ivan Stiefel took a different route founded West Virginia Mountain Justice Spring Break (MJSB), an organization of students that spend their vacation week working toward environmental change and social justice for Appalachian communities harmed by the coal industry. In 2007, the group staged a sit-in at the office of the state governor to protest the building of a coal silo next to an elementary school, and the following year they made similar trips to Virginia and Ohio. Stiefel, who worked as a kayaking instructor in Mexico and China after graduation, won a 2008 Brower Youth Award for his environmental efforts.

University: University of California- Berkeley
Country: USA
Done by: Rachel Barge
URL: http://www.treehugger.com/culture/10-college-students-making-green-headlines.html
Year: Started in 2007
Activity:University of California-Berkeley graduate Rachel Barge also won a Brower Youth Award, though her efforts were focused closer to home: She helped lead the successful Green Initiative Fund, in which students passed a referendum supporting a $5-per-student tuition increase that gave the school an additional $200,000 each year to put toward green projects.

She also founded Steam–Sustainability Team–an environmentally-focused internship program that set up recycling programs in student centers and developed a campus produce stand that sells organic goods from local farmers.

University: Utah State University
Country: US
Done by: Professor Lance Seefeldt, Alex McCurdy & Mike Morgan (Students)
URL: http://www.wired.com/autopia/2012/09/speed-record-cheese/
Year: 2012
Activity:Students at Utah State University have broken a land speed record in a car fueled by the waste that remains from cheese making. The student built car, known as the Aggie A-Salt Streamliner, was running on a student-derived biofuel made from yeast and cheese waste when it set the land speed record at 64.396 mph for a diesel-powered, one-liter, two-cylinder vehicle at the World of Speed event held at the Bonneville Salt Flats earlier this month.

The fuel was created by feeding the byproducts of cheese production to yeast, which yields a result that can be made into a biofuel that has a lower carbon footprint than conventional diesel. It’s one of three biofuels created in the lab of USU professor Lance Seefeldt, though only the cheese-based fuel was used at Bonneville.
University: University of Illinios
Country: US
Done by: Students of Ilinios University
URL: http://ssc.union.illinois.edu/
Year: 2011
Activity:The Student Sustainability Committee (SSC) is a student-led organization charged with the distribution of two student fees – the Sustainable Campus Environment Fee and the Clean Energy Technologies Fee. With the ultimate goal of making the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign a leader in campus sustainability, SSC reviews, recommends, and funds projects that increase environmental stewardship, inspire change, and impact students.

University: University of California
Country: USA
Done by: Christopher Tuyay
URL: http://www.dailybruin.com/article/2009/09/four-ucla-students-environmental-projects-chosen-e
Year: 2009
Activity:Tuyay, a fourth-year Design | Media Arts student, created “Bloom: The World is a Garden,” a project that utilizes responsive flowers to indicate the viewer’s carbon footprint. Tuyay said he wanted to combine the mechanical and organic in order to relate ecological information usually presented in graph form. The viewer inputs personal environment – related information into their mobile devices – addresses, whether or not they recycle, what kind of car they drive – and then walks towards the exhibition. The flowers then register the carbon footprint of each participant, which causes the flower to either shrivel or bloom.

“The project makes the carbon footprint physically visible,” said Méndez. “You can actually see (the flower) grow or shrivel if your footprint is bad.”

Because participants are also able to suspend the shriveling of their plant, update or improve their carbon footprint, and return to see the plant bloom, Méndez said the project allows participants to visualize caring for the Earth.

Diana Kerubo Mong’are, a first year student of Financial Economics at Strathmore University, started a project to clean up her Nakuru neighbourhood which is promising to make her a successful entrepreneur.

In February 2012, a few months after completing secondary school, Ms Mong’are launched Planet Green project. She persuaded her neighbours to start recycling their plastics and paper and she gave local carpenters incentives to stop burning sawdust. She has also helped nurture environmental clubs in two primary schools.

University: Delhi Technological University
Country: India
Done by: 5 Students
URL: http://aglasem.com/dtu/dtutimes/DTU_Times_13_Edition.pdf
Year: 2011
Activity:Dhobi’-an innovative washing machine developed by DTU students – team of five students have developed a pedal-powered washing machine, which can run without electricity.The machine – developed by two computer science students, one student each from mechanical, civil and electrical branch of engineering at Delhi Technological University (DTU) – will be useful in rural areas as well where there is no electricity. Dhobi is a one-time investment of Rs 3,500 for a rural household and Rs 4,500 for the urban household.

University: Malaviya National Institute of Tech
Country: India
Done by: Students
URL: http://www.ewb-international.org/pdf/EWB-IndiaGreenAwardCompetition.pdf
Year: 2012
Activity:This student group from the : Malaviya National Institute of Tech., Jaipur proposes to develop efficient energy resource planning for a village near their location based on a comprehensive survey-audit of energy needs. Paper proposes an integrated system of power, so that the village community can meet their demands internally, and collectively. The paper explores the options of renewable energy resources in various energy combinations of solar, wind, biomass, micro-hydro, conventional energy sources etc.

University: Bharati College, University of Delhi
Country: India
Done by: Teachers and Students
URL: http://www.bharaticollege.com/eco.aspx
Year: 2010
Activity:Bharati College, Univ of Delhi has a Eco Club which is an initiative taken by teachers and students to create awareness about environment and environmental issues. The Eco Club has taken following measures in to promote eco friendly activities in the College:

· INSTALLATION OF A BIO COMPOSITE PLANT: The natural fertilizers produced here apart from meeting the need of the College with its large expanse of green; also sells manure to staff and students of the College at a very reasonable price.
· INSTALLATION OF A RAIN HARVESTING PLANT : With the installation of the plant rain water can be collected and purified and used for various purposes in the College.
· The Club has planted several herbal plants in the College garden.
· The Club also periodically organizes trips, awarness programmes through posters, questionnaires and screens films on the environment.
· The Club also organizes competitions to promote environmental friendly attitude. Some of the competitions organized by the Club are: ‘Rangoli competition?(made out of food material and herbal colors), ‘Rakhi making competition?(in which rachis were made by using recycled products) etc.
· Two films were screened: ‘On Ragpickers?and ‘Winds of Change?
University: K C Bansal Academy
Country: India
Done by: Prof. Pramod Vyas with his students
URL: http://eweek.nenonline.org/eweekstories/biogas-plant-vegetable-waste
Year: 2012
Activity:The campus canteen of the K C Bansal Academy has a biogas plant built by the students and generates methane from vegetable waste. It came into operation six months back when Prof. Pramod Vyas from Chemistry department read about such biogas plants in Pune and decided to try it out with his students. He found this with just 2 kgs of waste and some water. It provides gas for two hours which can be used for cooking. It is based on a model developed by Anand Karve of Appropriate Rural Technology Institute based in Pune.

University: D Y Patil College of Engineering
Country: India
Done by: Siddharth Sahare & Indrajeet Singh
URL: http://eweek.nenonline.org/eweekstories/bottle-light
Year: 2012
Activity:The adaptation of the bottle light was done by Siddharth Sahare, third year civil engineering student and Indrajeet Singh, third year instrumentation. Since water has a higher refractive index than air, sunlight refracts through the water making the bottle below glow. It can be used from dawn to dusk. Students plan to take it to rural areas and urban construction areas. It is priced at Rs 75 in rural areas and Rs 100 in urban areas. It involves just a plastic bottle with water, a piece of tin sheet that is attached to the top half of the bottle and a cleaning agent to ensure the liquid remains clean. And voila, refracted sunlight makes the bottle glow.

University: Indian Institute of Technology, Mumbai
Country: India
Done by: Post – Graduates
URL: http://www.dnaindia.com/mumbai/report_mahasrashtra-colleges-and-university-campuses-asked-to-go-green_1457961
Year: 2010
Activity:University and colleges in the state have been asked to replicate the ‘Green Campus’ project started by Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Mumbai that aims to reduce the environmental impact of large residential campuses. This project was started in IIT by post-graduate students .All the university vice chancellors and college principals were told by the state environment department that they will get financial and technical help if they build green buildings in their campuses and create facilities to conserve energy and water.

University: Tarumitra Bio-reserve
Country: India
Done by: 60 students and teachers
URL: http://www.unep.org/wed/news/ecocamp.asp
Year: 2012
Activity:Students organized Eco camp for the Conservation of Biodiversity – 60 students and teachers from eleven schools congregated at the Tarumitra Bio-reserve. The students collected dry leaves from the forest as a mulch for the crops. The land which suffered heavily with pesticides for more than 50 years had its first crop with out poisons and chemical fertilizers. The students also made an early trip to River Ganges for a study tour and came back with the river water to be poured in the Organic field. They also started the construction of an Eco-toilette with help from the WASH Institute who is sponsoring most of the expenses. Both Urine and excreta will be processed as manure for the field.

University: Vidyavardhaka Engineering College
Country: India
Done by: Abhishek M S
URL: http://eweek.nenonline.org/eweekstories/save-and-gain-energy-e-cell-mantra-0
Year: 2012
Activity:The multi-purpose seed separatormade from metal, wood and nylon was initially designed to deseed paddy, but has been found more useful for millets, peas and other vegetables. Our objective is to create products that use minimal power and run on solar energy. Our lab is working to blend two kinds of energy, solar with electricity, gas or CNG to finally run a turbine,” said the inventor Abhishek M S of this college . The students of this college have also designed a solar ovens.

University: SSN College
Country: India
Done by: Students
URL: http://eweek.nenonline.org/eweekstories/lighting-lives-still-makes-business
Year: 2012
Activity:SSN College, Chennai students have embarked on Light a School project which aims to provide solar electrifications in village schools not connected to the grid in Tamil Nadu. Many students in five villages in Tiruthani and Dindigul would be able learn and play through this initiative. A group of 17 students raised Rs 30,000 in money through sponsorships. They sourced solar panels and lights.

University: University of Washington (UW)
Country: USA
Done by: Students of UW
URL: http://seattletimes.com/html/localnews/2018025746_sustain20m.html
Year: 2012
Activity:Students of University of Washington University (UW) created a Campus Sustainability Fund two years ago, after more than 5,000 students signed a petition asking that a small portion of student fees be used for environmental projects. In the last year, students have used the money for a variety of projects, including increasing the size of the student-run UW Farm by an acre, boosting campus recycling efforts, and creating five fix-it-yourself bike stations around campus where cyclists can go to tighten a bolt or fix a flat.– April 2012.

University: Santa Rosa Junior College
Country: US
Done by: Students
URL: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lhmZ4yTIoL8&feature=player_embedded
Year: 2010
Activity:Students for Sustainable Communities is a Santa Rosa Junior College club dedicated to educating and motivating the SRJC college community to adopt sustainable lifestyle practices. In this video the student club’s Jessica Jones describes its new cafeteria project. This is a great model for creating action on the community college level, where turn over is very quick but it would work great on any campus. It would appear that the act of helping people properly sort their trash from recyclables creates a nice buzz and interest in the organization, resulting in rapid membership growth.

Congratulations to the students involved in this ambitious and successful project.

University: Ohio High School
Country: US
Done by: Sachin Rudraraju
URL: http://yosemite.epa.gov/opa/admpress.nsf/0/B5CB32697951D59085257A08005B36FF
Year: 2012
Activity:Sachin Rudraraju of Ohio School founded the Community Recycling Campaign to raise awareness about the environmental impacts of electronic waste, provide alternative solutions to costly computer recycling programs and offer a service to make recycling easier. CRC volunteers refurbish salvageable computers and electronics and donate them to local charities, keeping electronic waste out of landfills.

University: Northport Middle School
Country: USA
Done by: Aidan Dwyer
URL: https://www.uaf.edu/files/asra/ASRA_White-House-press-release-2:12.pdf
Year: 2012
Activity:Aidan Dwyer, a middle school student hailing from Northport, New York, won first place in the American Museum of Natural History’s 2011 Young Naturalist Award for his study of a more efficient way to collect solar energy. Modeling the natural design of tree limbs which Aidan predicted must serve a benefit for the trees to optimize sun collected to feed photosynthesis in the short, dark days of winter, Aidan worked to devise a potentially more efficient way to collect solar energy.

University: Downtown Business Magnet High School
Country: USA
Done by: Hayley Hoverter
URL: http://www.ecology.com/2012/02/08/white-house-science-fair/
Year: 2012
Activity:Hayley Hoverter, a 16 years old student from Downtown Business Magnet High School in Los Angeles, California, won first place at the 2011 Network For Teaching Entrepreneurship’s National Challenge for her idea for patent-pending ecologically conscious dissolvable sugar packets. Hayley, now CEO of Sweet (dis)SOLVE, started her business as a part of the Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship’s (NFTE’s) business plan competition.

University: Kohala Middle School
Country: Hawaii
Done by: Isabel Steinhoff, Rico Bowman, Genevieve Boyle & Mina Apostadiro
URL: http://www.ecology.com/2012/02/08/white-house-science-fair/
Year: 2012
Activity:Isabel Steinhoff, Rico Bowman, Genevieve Boyle, and Mina Apostadiro, of Kohala Middle School in Kapaau, Hawaii, took first place in the grade 6-8 division of the Siemens “We Can Change the World” Challenge, for their household battery recycling effort to collect 6,000 batteries in 60 days. The team, named 6000 in 60, embarked on a campaign to improve their community’s use and disposal of batteries by giving local people information on the environmental harm of batteries disposed improperly along with providing local opportunities for recycling.